Guarding Dinner

Finnegan and the Grill
Tequesta, FL
October 19, 2026

 Finnegan is not so much a guard dog as he is a watch dog. The is no reason to be afraid of his bite, but his bark can break eardrums. 

He has taken up a new hobby, watching dinner. The other evening as I was grilling, he climbed up onto the table I use for preparation and protected dinner from unknown threats. 

It is a bit weird. 

Instead of reclining on a chair or sofa, he is more often finding comfort on tables. I'm not really sure what that is all about. He still rests in the dog beds we have around the house, but he can also be found on the coffee table or and end table. 

About my grill. We are not allowed gas grills in our condo. The Weber electric grill is incredibly versatile and I enjoy cooking on it. It is easy to clean and i have started lining the bottom with aluminum foil to collect the drippings.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Sunday Washout

 

Happy Sunday!

Today is supposed to be a washout. Rain is expected all day and incredible waves of up to 18 feet hitting the beaches! Ugh!

It will be a good day to stay inside and watch football. 

I am concerned about the Steelers game from Paris, given the unrest there. Maybe the NFL needs to rethink its international game schedule. 

Turning to baseball, I was thinking of heading to St Petersburg for tomorrow's World Series Game 3, but the tickets remain over priced. And then there is the need for a hotel. The whole package is a bit much, I think.

I was reminded that yesterday was the last Pythagorean Theorem Day for this century. I'm glad I didn't miss it!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Vote!

 

I love early voting! I have, in the past, enjoyed standing in the lines to vote. I especially remember the 2020 election during COVID and standing in the lines and being 6 feet from the person in front and wearing a mask. It was, fortunately, a nice day. 

Since then, however, I believe we have voted early in every election. It allows us to vote on our schedule. If the U.S. was dedicated to encouraging everyone to vote on one day, then it would be a national holiday with very few businesses or schools open.

I prefer early voting to mail-in voting. I mailed in my ballot for the entire time I was in the military. I missed the act of going to the polls to cast my ballot in person, hence, I like early voting because I can vote in person!

The important thing is to VOTE! (I picked purple because it is a mix of red and blue)

Election day is Tuesday, November 3rd. 

Early voting is open in some states and there is also mail-in voting.  Get out there and make your voice heard. "We the People" must make our voices heard. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

A New Watering Hole

 

Cold weather arrived this morning in Tequesta. It was the first morning since the early months of the year that I felt a cold breeze when I took Finnegan out for his morning duty. 

Tuesday at Locals
Tequesta, FL
October 20, 2026

It was 66 degrees and low humidity. Really cold. Ha Ha! I am looking forward to biking this morning.

We haven't seen temperatures this low since late-April. 

Although last evening was what we usually call Tiki Tuesday, we ventured to a different watering hole last night, Locals Pub in Tequesta. Tuesday is Smashburger night at Locals. Our friend Cody is working there and the the vibe, while very much a pub, is relaxed and believe it or not relatively quiet--even when packed with patrons as it was last night.

Locals is a different watering hole giving us an alternate place to visit when the weather is bad. And the Smashburger is excellent!

We had a really enjoyable evening and it was our third or fourth visit, so we are comfortable in the pub atmosphere. I was surprised to see a very famous golfer and his family were also in attendance last evening. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

The Kraken Lives!

 

The Kraken Lives
Tequesta, FL
October, 15, 2026

I am amused at the creativity shown in Halloween decorations around the community. Again this year, creative decorations abound. I believe the beautiful South Florida weather contributes to the variety of decorations that I see during my bike rides around the community.

The yard decorations run the gamut from skeletons of all kinds and in many poses, to pumpkins and witches crashing into trees. One that most intrigues me this year is of the tentacles rising from the yard. Two things come to mine, the most obvious might be a kraken rising from the yard to devour the house and those who approach it. I think it can be really creepy. The other possibility that comes to mind is "Day of the Tentacle," a computer game from the distant past. 

I think the image came out really well considering that I took it on my Meta glasses while coming around a corner on my bike. I rode a solid 18.5 miles yesterday and the weather was beautiful. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Sunlight on the Palms

Tequesta Palms
Tequesta, FL
October 14, 2026

 Sitting at dinner last evening, Chris had a good view of some palms across the street as the sun was setting. She convinced me to completely turn around in my chair to capture the scene. Although the image I took was not what she wanted, it shows how the forward palm was already in shadows while the palms to the rear remained in bright sunshine. 

We were out for dinner to enjoy another evening of good weather. South Florida has finally broken out of the cycle where the "feels like" temperature is consistently over 100 degrees. The 85 degrees with a nice breeze we were experiencing last evening was very pleasant and we enjoyed dinner al fresco. OK, it was on a veranda, but still was technically open air!

There is something special about enjoying Italian cuisine al fresco, even with the noise from the street. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

They were Diving Right in Front of Us

 

Afternoon on the Beach
Carlin Park, Jupiter, FL
October 13, 2026

The weather moderated both in temperature and rainfall making yesterday a perfect afternoon to hit the beach for Happy Hour. 

And we did!

We were not disappointed because for much of our time enjoying adult beverages and snacks we were treated to an aerial show compliments of a few pelicans who were diving into the water.

The water temperature was 84 degrees and the air was about the same as we set up our camp on the beach. The are was cleared of the humidity and the clouds were puffy and white until the sin began to set and then the clouds reflected the golden rays. 

But it was the pelicans that stole the show. I have never seen so many pelicans diving into the water and for so long a period before. 

They were fun to watch. I am glad that I was able to capture some of their activities.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Why did I do That?

A Calm and Peaceful View
Loxahatchee River North Fork
Tequesta, FL'
October 7, 2026

 Yesterday became a disaster. 

I did not intend for three dissimilar appointments to create an incredible amount of tension, but they did.

In an effort to get everything accomplished, the resulting conflicts and resulting tension was all my fault. 

The two appointments which became most tangled were Chris to the dentist and the Ford dealership coming to perform a software update on the Mach-e to clear a safety recall. In position three was the completion of our impact window installation, a project that started during February. 

My Truck
Elkridge, MD
April 22, 202

I believed that I had deconflicted the events by planning to leave the key in the Mach-e for the Ford technician while we went to the dentist. We would use the truck to travel to the dentist. 

Enter the wild card!

I did not plan for the truck to not start because it had remined unused for almost four weeks. That situation threw the morning into disorder.

Initially I thought "no problem," I have a portable battery booster. Which was great, except that I had not checked it in a long while and it was discharged and would not start the truck! Ugh. What to do? Time was critical at this point. We took the car to the dental appointment arriving with five minutes to spare. The Ford dealership had a wide window and I hoped the dental appointment would conclude before their planned arrival. 

The good news was the window technician called and confirmed he would be arriving outside of the immediate window. One possible conflict resolved. 

But nothing actually works out. Within minutes of arriving at the dentist, the Ford technician called and told me he would be arriving in about 15 minutes. I left Chris and raced back to the house to meet him. 

I thought I might be able to use my trickle charger to start the truck and return to Chris at the dentist. Fortunately, the Ford technician had a booster battery and offered to help--something that actually mitigated the crisis. The truck started easily and I was elated. The next looming disaster was--what if the truck does not start at the dentist? Well, I'll call AAA. Since it started with so easily with the boost, I was confident that all of the battery cells were working and it had just discharged because we have not been driving it much due to the cost of gas--and we have a great EV.

Crisis averted, the truck started when we were ready to leave the dentist. Upon arriving home we actually had about an hour and a half before the window tech arrived. Sadly, only one of the two panes could be replaced because it started raining. That project continues unfinished. 

When the window tech departed about 1 PM, Chris and I enjoyed lunch and relaxed. We had survived the morning. 

Lesson learned.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Tequesta Sunrise

 

Tequesta Sunrise
Tequesta, FL
October 6, 2026

I stepped onto my veranda this morning and was greeted by a vibrant sunrise. 

What could be more perfect than to see the signature palm tree silhouetted against a brilliant sunrise. It caught me immediately. For my second morning back after the cruise,  I was reminded why I love Florida living. 

Impressionist Tequesta Sunrise
Tequesta, FL
October 6 ,2026

I am looking forward to heading out on my bike for my inaugural October ride. I have been slacking when it comes to riding my bike--but mostly due to an aggressive travel schedule. 

I took the image into my photo editor and created an impressionist interpretation of the scene--just for fun. That was a fun exercise. 

Let me know which you prefer.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Figurehead Try-out

 

Mourning Dove on the Hood
Tequesta, FL
September 26, 2026

Finnegan and I came across a mourning dove sitting on the car this morning looking into the car. I wondered if the bird was trying-out to be a hood ornament or a figurehead. The bird did not mind that we were staring at it from pretty close range.

Finn was great. He looked at the bird, but did not bark. I had enough time to get the camera out and take an image. 

Pumpkin Display
Ace Hardware, Tequesta, FL
September 25, 2026

I can tell we are rolling into October and Halloween. The local Ace Hardware store is decked out for the hoiday. I can't believe the pumpkns are out. I'm not sure how well they will last until the end of next month without rotting.

I do really like the the black flamingos standing amidst the pumpkins.

Tomorrow is cruise day. Final packing is the plan for the day. Well, and of course watching Georgia football and maybe USF as well.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Purse Shopping

Clouds in the Afternoon
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
September 15, 2026

 The clouds have been fascinating to watch of late with the storms racing through our area. Yesterday, as we were leaving the Gardens Mall, after an unsuccessful purse shopping trip, the clouds were stunning.

The shopping trip was eye opening for me. I do not routinely shop for purses because Chris has an extensive stable, but one of her daily use purses appears to be coming to end of life. Well, I understood that prices for some name brands were in the $400 and above region, but I looked at a fairly simple purse in one store and was shocked when the ticketed price was $3800! I mean, it's just a bag! Chris and I tried not to be too obvious as we exited the establishment. 

We decided that purse shopping at the mall was probably not going to be where Chris' new purse would be found. We enjoyed lunch at Cooper's Hawk and used our birthday credits, which helped the frustration to pass. 

Later during the afternoon, we went to Marshall's to continue the purse shopping expedition. And believe it or not Chris found a purse. She decided on a brand name purse for 25 percent of what we saw in the mall. She is now the proud owner of a new purse with a brand! Ugh, it's just a bag! I think we had actually had our hands on a similar purse with the same brand while at the mall. 

Just another great South Florida day!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta

And it is Tuesday Again

10-day Weather Forecast 
Tequesta, FL
9/15-9/24 2026

 It is hard to believe, but today is the mid-point of September. It seems like just yesterday it was August! I only wish the temperatures had cooled like the being in the month of September suggests. Autumn is waiting off-stage for its arrival in just one week and it still feels like mid-summer. The feels like temperature in Tequesta yesterday afternoon was 107 degrees. Ugh!

I looked at the ten day forecast! It is almost identical to August. The good news is that the Feels Like temperatures will be only, yea I wrote "only", in the high 90s. The daily actual temperatures are forecast to be 86-87 degrees. That actually is about 6 degrees cooler than August--why does it still seem so hot? And rain? Nearly every day!

Welcome to South Florida!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

By the Water

 

Boat on the Loxahatchee
Tequesta, FL
September 13, 2026

The weather was fantastic this morning. I was greeted by blue clear skies and temperatures in the upper 70s as I began my bike ride. 

It felt good to be out on the streets again. 

Gopher Tortoise
Tequesta, FL
September 13, 2026

I realized this morning, as I began listening to  Dungeon Crawler Carl Book 4, that my rides are defined by rivers and water features. I ride along the river and often the ICW or the Atlantic Ocean. I enjoy the changing scenery of the water, be it boats or shoreline features. I especially love looking at the water when it is flat, as it was this morning. The single boat heading under the bridge this morning caught my attention and made me wish to be out on the water on so perfect a day.

I was heartened to see two tortoises this morning in their usual places. I have not seen them in well over a month and thought perhaps they had moved on to other areas or been killed. The one in the image even posed for me by keeping his head out of his shell. 

It was a good ride and I could tell it had been almost two weeks since my last ride. I was six minutes slower than usual. 

Hopefully, the weather is moderating and I will get back into biking shape. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL 

Down to Marley Creek

 

Marley Creek
Glen Burnie, MD
September 11, 2026

Patriot Day 2026

25 Years Later

We spent most of the yesterday with Beckett. That, of course, is a grandparents delight, having a day pretty much alone with a grandchild. 

Gramma with Beck
Glen Burnie, MD
September 10, 2026

He is a busy, inquisitive, and delightful boy. He is all boy. He bounces off floors and only fusses for a while. We were hard pressed to keep up with him, but used all of the spaces that are specially prepared for him in the home. He kept his new toy doll close for most of the day. We took a very enjoyable over a mile walk down to Marley Creek. Walking through the forested area to the banks of the creek is cathartic. The built up stresses of life just melted away among the sounds of the birds and cicadas. We heard an eagle screech, but only caught sight of a wing as if glided into its, presumably, nest high in a tree along the banks of the creek. 

We were quite busy all morning and, I have to admit, it was quite a relief when he went down for his nap--and so did we!

On Patriot Day 2026, as we pause to remember and reflect, we must rededicate ourselves to a vision of America where "We the People" wrest control of our country and the government from the criminals and oligarchs. As President Bush said on September 14, 2001, while standing on Ground Zero: "I can hear you! I can hear you! The rest of the world hears you! And the people -- and the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon!" Our voices will be heard strong and loud on election day!

-- Bob Doan, Glen Burnie, MD

It is Alive!

1st Gen Wayfarer Meta Glasses

 I have written before about my Meta Wayfarer glasses which failed and I subsequently obtained another pair at a reduced cost because Meta said the glasses were not repairable. The battery had failed. 

Well--the dead have been resurrected. 

Patrick, my son, ordered a replacement battery. Well, not exactly replacement because he ordered the next generation battery for the Meta glasses which has better reliability and other improvements. 

Meta Wayfarer Battery

Companies that make products with rechargeable batteries need to ensure there is an easy way to replace the battery. A failed rechargeable battery often becomes the reason that an item stops working and needs replacing. Frankly, it is almost criminal given the cost to replace the product versus replacing the battery.

In this instance I spent over $200 to purchase a new pair of glasses, Meta gave me a deal on 2nd Gen glasses because mine were out of warranty. With shipping, the next generation battery was $15 and took about 30 minutes to install, with some specialized tools. To replace the battery, one of the arms needs to be separated to access the battery compartment and then re-glued once the battery is installed. The procedure is not something most people can do without destroying the glasses, but it was successfully accomplished in this instance. 

My other experience with a not consumer replaceable battery was a Yeedi floor cleaner, similar to a Roomba. I was able to procure a replacement battery and replace it, but because I could not get the battery from the company, the connector was not a perfect match and I finally discarded the Yeedi. When I called the Yeedi company they informed me they did not sell new batteries and it was not a consumer replaceable item. They offered me a discount on a newer model--which I did not accept.

I am not sure what I am going to do with two pair of Meta glasses, but it is a good problem to have. 

-- Bob Doan, Glen Burnie, MD

Tiki Tuesday Canceled

 

Despondent Dog back at Home
Tequesta, FL
September 1, 2026

We knew something was wrong when we pulled into the empty parking lot. It was Tiki Tuesday, when we often head to Tiki52 for adult beverages and food. We are used to the lot being nicely full of vehicles, but this definitely was not the case.

We were running a bit late and expected a few more vehicles than a normal Tuesday night. Finn was excited about getting out, he loves going to Tiki52 for dinner. He even has learned the word, Tiki, and gets very excited when we indicate we are headed there. Tiki52 is dog friendly!

I parked the car and went to the welcome station of the empty restaurant. I was greeted by the sign announcing the September closure on Mondays to Wednesdays. The restaurant is normally closed on Mondays, but the addition of two days is disconcerting. Yes, I know business has been really slow, but we enjoy our time on Tuesdays or Wednesdays and are regulars when we are in town. 

Finn was despondent. Chris and Finn never even got out of the car. We were undecided about dinner at that point and decided to order a pizza. I had a 50 percent off coupon and we enjoyed a pizza dinner for less than $10. So it worked out.

I subsequently learned that Tiki52 is upgrading the kitchen and being closed three days per week assists in the renovation. 

It is the slow season here. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

A Break in the Storms

 

North Fork Loxahatchee River
Tequesta, FL
August 31, 2026

Welcome September!

The storms abated a bit yesterday and Chris and I were able to enjoy a more normal Monday. 

I hit the streets on my bike and later joined Chris for a joint walk with Finn. And the rains held off. Amazingly.

The storms are hanging just off the coast this morning. We can see the clouds, but are enjoying blue skies above us. 

The image taken during my ride yesterday was truly amazing. The river was so calm that the reflection of the clouds are clear and visible. It was a tranquil scene, even more so given the storms we have been experiencing. 

We are looking forward to our Labor Day weekend travel north. I am having difficulty believing that Summer is coming to an end. Fortunately, I live in a place where it lasts well into November. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Rare Autos

 

1953 Cunningham C-3 Continental Cabriolet
Elliott Museum, Stuart, FL
August 22, 2026

Many of the vehicles at the Elliott Museum are limited or rare. For instance, there is a 1954 Corvette (3640 produced) and a 1955 Thunderbird (16,155). And these are very fine vehicles to look at and enjoy. 

But, among the rarest in the museum is a 1953 Cunningham C-3 Continental Cabriolet. The production consisted of 25 cars with only 5 being the Cabriolet version.

1953 Cunningham C-3 Continental Cabriolet, body by Vignale, Turin, Italy. Currently running a 1958 Chrysler 392 cubic inch “Hemi” V-8 with a PowerFlite two-speed automatic transmission. Chassis made in West Palm Beach, FL. This car was on display at the 1953 Geneva Auto Show and the 1953 New York Auto Show. Recent cosmetic restoration. (Elliott Museum)

I have enjoyed looking at this car during every visit to the museum as it is in the gallery, unlike the vehicles in the car racking system which must be requested for viewing. 

1914 Packard 7-Passenger Phaeton
Elliott Museum, Stuart, FL
August 22, 2026

The Cunningham C-3 Continental Cabriolet is valued at over $1 million based upon the most recent sale of one during 2022. This car, while expensive is not the rarest vehicle on display inn the museum. There is a one of a kind auto, but of known vehicles that are a lot of fun to look at, the 1914 Packard 7-Passenger Phaeton previously owned by Ralph Evinrude, the 1914 Packard Touring Car (only three exist in the world), and the 1954 EMW 327/3 coupe (one of only 152 produced and believed to be the only one in the US) are head turners. I continue to be amazed at the size of the older vehicles and how under powered they were. The Phaeton, for example, has a 415 cid engine with a whopping 60 horsepower.

 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Enjoying the Exhibits

Chris on the Floor or Wall?
3D Doubt your Eyes Art Exhibit 
Elliott Museum, Stuart, FL
August 22, 2026

 We returned to the Elliott Museum in Stuart yesterday to enjoy the exhibits without having to fight the snowbird crowds for parking. The area around the museum is prime beach real estate and the weekend crowds can really use up all of the parking. 

The museum always has some interesting exhibits and yesterday was no exception. We thoroughly enjoyed the Society of Animal Artists exhibit that was positioned around the nearly the entire first floor of the museum. There are very creative artists using multiple mediums to express what they observed in nature. 

Car Display Floor
Elliott Museum, Stuart, FL
August 22, 2026

The 3-D Doubt Your Eyes exhibit is fun. Getting into the scenes is creative play and getting just the right image of the scene can be challenging.

And of course the crown jewel of the museum is the Wheels of Change automobile exhibit, which is permanent. The main floor where is it easy to get close to the classic cars as well as the carefully curated three-floor display of autos and trucks with the specially designed retrieval system to place the vehicles on a rotating display pad. I always love watching the system retrieve the vehicle we desire. Yesterday we requested a milk truck from about 1931. 

The description of the car racking system is interesting in itself:

ABOUT OUR CAR RACKING SYSTEM
It’s not just for storage — it’s a moving piece of engineering art.
Our one-of-a-kind, three-story, climate-controlled, robotic car storage and retrieval system showcases over 50 extraordinary classic and antique cars in a way that’s as innovative as the vehicles themselves. With the push of a button, the system springs into action, retrieving a gleaming automobile and rotating it into view — an experience that turns history into theater. (Elliott Museum)

And there is so much more to see in the museum, including a classic baseball card collection and a section devoted to the Ashley Gang, a rum running/bank robbing family. And no, they are not related to the Doan Gang. 

I highly recommend visiting the museum and also eating at the restaurant right on the museum grounds. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Late-Summer Weekend

 Sadly, Summer is winding down. Labor Day weekend is two weekends away and that is the unofficial end to Summer's run.

It is sad that the summer is ending so soon. I feel as though it only began a few short weeks ago. But, the end of the year holiday decorations are showing up on the retail shelves. The Sahara dust has finally departed the skies over South Florida, that brought really hot afternoon temperatures and thunderstorms across the region yesterday. 

Well, we are planning to enjoy this late-Summer weekend. We are beginning the day, if it goes as planned, on the water in a boat. I have found a new place to "dock and dine" for lunch since the Stuart City Dock is closed for renovation. The plan is to head north on the ICW to Jensen Beach after some nice beach time along the Atlantic Ocean. Nicole and Mike are visiting, after dropping Jax off in Tampa yesterday to begin classes at the University of South Florida, and it should be a very enjoyable day. 

Chris and I are definitely ready for the weekend which begins today!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL